Mitsubishi Ethylene Plant Remains Shut Following Fatal Accident

Mitsubishi Chemical says it has still not identified the cause of a fire that broke out at the company’s No. 2 ethylene plant at Kashima, Japan on December 21, 2007, killing four workers. Investigations by the local police and fire departments are continuing, Mitsubishi says. Operation of the plant has been suspended since the incident. Mitsubishi declines to comment on how long the plant will be offstream, but press reports say it will be closed for 3-4 months and market rumors say it could be as long as six months. The accident occurred when “quench...